Head coach Pep Muñoz raises concerns over national-team coordination ahead of Bengaluru FC’s FC Goa clash in ISL 2026-27

The Blues are all set to face the Gaurs at Fatorda.

The Indian Super League moves to the 5th Gameweek of the season as Bengaluru FC are set to take on FC Goa at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda on Friday, November 06,th 2026 with kick-off scheduled for 7:30 PM IST.

The Blues head into the encounter placed third in the league standings with seven points from three matches, having registered two wins and a draw so far. FC Goa, meanwhile, occupy sixth place with five points from their opening three fixtures. The Gaurs began their campaign with consecutive 1-1 draws against Chennaiyin FC and Sporting Club Delhi before registering their first win of the season with a 2-1 victory over Inter Kashi.

Ahead of the fixture, Bengaluru FC head coach Pep Muñoz addressed the media at the pre-match press conference. Here are the key excerpts from the pre-match press conference.

On facing FC Goa

Speaking about the challenge of facing FC Goa away from home, Pep Muñoz highlighted the quality within the opposition squad, describing the Gaurs as one of the teams capable of playing good football. The Bengaluru head coach expects a demanding contest but insisted that his side would look to impose its own style and remain competitive throughout the game.

“We know it’s our second game away, and especially in Goa, the conditions are a little different with the humidity and hot weather. It will be a tough game, not only because of the weather but also because of the opponent we have to face. For me, they are one of the teams with better players to play good football. They do a lot of good things during games, and they also play international games, which makes them more competitive.

“But again, we have to show our style, our idea and our personality, and try to be competitive throughout the game, like we did last weekend, and try to get the best result.”

On the importance of pre-season and building the team’s identity

Reflecting on the differences between the current campaign and his previous season at Bengaluru FC, The Manager emphasised the importance of having a full pre-season to implement his footballing philosophy.

“First of all, we could have a proper pre-season, so we had time to work and develop our game idea, as well as include the new players in our tactics and structure. Last season, I didn’t have that time. I just came in and faced the games one by one, with a short squad. It’s totally different this season.

“I think this team is closer to what I want to see. Last season, I didn’t have too much time to work on that, and at the end, it’s definitely different. Obviously, having a bigger squad this season also helps a lot in allowing the team to show the identity that I want.”

On the NorthEast United draw

Looking back at Bengaluru FC’s 1-1 draw against NorthEast United FC, Muñoz maintained a positive outlook, choosing to view the result as a point gained rather than two points dropped. However, he acknowledged that his side needed to be more clinical in front of goal and improve their consistency in possession.

“We dropped two points, or we won one point, it depends on how you look at it. I’m always positive, so I think we took one point at NorthEast’s stadium. It’s difficult to play away against teams that play quite directly, with fast players up front. They were also playing with a lot of confidence at home.

“Against Goa, I expect a different game because they are a different team. They want possession, and they have Spanish players that I know quite well. I know how they play and what they can offer. So, from our side, it will also be a different setup, different pressing and different options to keep possession, create chances and win the ball back.

“Every game is different. The lesson from the last game is that we have to be more clinical. When we get chances, we have to score. We also need to be more consistent in keeping possession because that’s what we want to do. Otherwise, we suffer. We need better possession with more intent and must continue progressing towards what we want to show on the pitch.”

On the FIFA break, preparations and national-team call-ups

With the FIFA international break approaching, Muñoz explained how Bengaluru FC intend to utilise the gap between fixtures to work on their playing identity and address areas that need improvement.

The Spaniard also raised concerns over the management of players during the previous international window, particularly Ryan William’s workload and the lack of communication between the national teams and the club regarding training schedules and player recovery.

With the Blues scheduled to face Mumbai City FC after the break, Muñoz hopes the players called up will return in time and, more importantly, in good physical condition.

“Obviously, we have another break. This is a FIFA break, so it’s mandatory. But we use these gaps to work on our game idea and correct some individual actions, especially to develop the players much better in certain individual and group situations. We will have a lot of things to correct and improve from the last game, and we’ll also give the players some rest.

“Some of them will go with their national teams, while others will stay here and work with the team. It’s what it is. It’s a resting week, but we will keep working to be as prepared as possible for the next league game.

“Hopefully, the players who go with the national teams don’t have any issues. Last time, Ryan Williams played a lot of minutes and wasn’t given enough rest. Other players were training without communication with us, so we didn’t know what they were doing or how they were training.

“Hopefully, the players selected for the national teams will come back on time. I’m not sure if they will return in time to play against Mumbai, but at least I hope they come back in the best possible condition” he concluded.

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